Using Business Skills to Help Spread the Gospel

Brittany (Nichols) Aldridge (2017) has been putting her business leadership degree to good use in her work as a donor relations associate at Words of Hope in Grand Rapids, MI.

According to her, while she initially intended to pursue a degree in English at Kuyper, “I found my passion and calling for business in Kuyper’s Business Leadership Program.

Soon after graduating, Aldridge heard the Words of Hope president, Jon Opgenorth, speak at her church about the work they were doing to spread the gospel in hard-to-reach places. Words of Hope began as a radio program, and now they also offer print devotionals, produce programs on YouTube, develop apps, and use social media to reach as many people as possible in their heart language. Aldridge says, “The whole time he was talking, I thought to myself, ‘It would be so cool to work there. I hope that I can do that one day.’” A few months later, she was hired as a donor relations associate.

In her position, Aldridge communicates with donors and churches supporting Words of Hope. She gives updates on the ministry’s work and explains the needs of the organization.

“What brings me the most joy in what I do,” says Aldridge, “is knowing that lives are being changed by the grace of God because of what Words of Hope provides in these hard places.” Aldridge is inspired by the field leaders who seek to spread the gospel in different countries. She loves the challenge of raising money for an organization she believes in.

According to Aldridge, her time at Kuyper taught her the importance of being a good steward of people’s resources, a skill she uses every day at Words of Hope. As she looks to the future, she says, “My hope is that the Lord is leading me to make a lasting impact at Words of Hope. But at the end of the day, I just want to serve the Lord with all my heart in everything that I do.”